Ranker’s Return

Chapter 650

“That’s great.” Hyeonu clapped happily after hearing the news that Yoo Hyeonsu had joined. Hyeonu knew about Yoo Hyeonsu somewhat. He was a tank class ranker who was considered to be at least two or three stages better than Lee Hoon. This was in level and arena ranking.

Yoo Hyeonsu was ahead in all ways. Yet for some reason, after failing the test to enter JT Telecom, he rejected the offers of all other teams—including UK Heights and several strong overseas teams—and focused only on streaming. Thus, he was called the ‘Iron Wall of Misfortune’.

“As expected of Kang Ujong. You are truly Kang Ujong. You brought in such a good player from the beginning…” Moon Doyeong also stared at Yoo Hyeonsu’s photo on the screen with a happy expression.

This was an unexpected big fish. Yoo Hyeonsu was really one of the best Korean rankers, aside from the handsome man in front of Moon Doyeong right now—Alley Leader. Of course, the ranking was further increased when limited to tanks.

“In this case, isn’t it half over? We have strong shields.” Moon Doyeong raised his finger and wrote the names Lee Hoon and Yoo Hyeonsu on his desk.

Most of the professional teams consisted of 12 players. Two of them were close-range players with the role of a tanker, and two were priest players. Four of the remaining eight were filled with melee players with strong attack power. The remaining four players were freely combined to create the team’s personality.

In the process of forming a team, the most difficult thing was to find a tanker. Those in charge of the tanker position had too little attention compared to the difficulties of playing. It wasn’t just in the professional scene but also in streaming.

People were attracted to gorgeous classes. It was instinct. This was why there was only a small number of tankers. To be precise, there were even fewer talented tanker players. Talented people usually wanted to show off their talents and chose a magician or melee class suitable for combat, so there were few such people among the tankers.

“I am less worried. Yoo Hyeonsu is a well-known gentlemanly player in Arena. He doesn’t need the same hard work as that guy, Hoon…” Hyeonu said.

He liked Yoo Hyeonsu for a different reason. Yoo Hyeonsu was skilled, but his personality was really the best. He hadn’t been gossiped about since he became famous. Nothing had ever spread in the communities. He always cared for others and gave way to the point of being called a fool.

“Perhaps it is because he has such a side that I wanted to scout him first. If that known personality is real… there is no person better than this to be in charge of the team.”

“I wish that five more people like Yoo Hyeonsu will be selected. Then I’ll be comfortable.” Hyeonu was sincerely hoping for this. Then he would have less work to do.

“It won’t be so easy to gain five more talents like that,” Moon Doyeong said. 

‘It is excessive greed.’ He smiled bitterly. Wanting five more talented people with the same skills and personality as Yoo Hyeonsu was like wanting one more person with the same skills as Alley Leader.

“By the way, since a new player has joined the team, won’t you go to meet him?” Moon Doyeong asked.

“I wasn’t going to, but I am going now. We are the same age, so I might gain one more good friend.” Hyeonu stood up as he spoke these words and checked the time. His smartphone showed that it was 5 o’clock. The appointment time was right before him.

“Then I’ll see you next time, Moon Doyeong-nim”

“I hope you have a good time, Coach Gang Hyeonu-nim.”

***

Hyeonu left the Mirwol Building where Moon Doyeong was located and drove straight to Yeongchan’s officetel where he lived. He parked the car in the underground area of the officetel and headed directly across the street from the officetel. This was because this was the place where Crescent Moon lived. When Hyeonu entered the practice room, he was welcomed by a strange man.

‘Is he Yoo Hyeonsu?’

“Hello, I am Gang Hyeonu.” Hyeonu naturally greeted the man he met for the first time in the practice room. It was as if they had already met several times.

“Uh… Uh…” Yoo Hyeonsu, the man Hyeonu was meeting for the first time, rubbed his eyes. He was amazed to see Hyeonu in front of him. He’d found out at Arena Week that Hyeonu was going to be the coach of Crescent Moon, but he didn’t think he would meet Hyeonu on the day he unpacked his luggage.

“You are the new player, Yoo Hyeonsu, right? Let’s get along well in the future.” Hyeonu approached the flustered Yoo Hyeonsu and reached out a hand. The confused Yoo Hyeonsu shook Hyeonu’s hand. 

“Ah, yes. I am Yoo Hyeonsu,” Yoo Hyeonsu introduced himself with a silly expression.

“Speak comfortably. The profile I just received said that we are the same age,” Hyeonu said. Yoo Hyeonsu and Hyeonu were the same age. This was according to the profile sent by Jeong Byeongjin.

“Can… I do that?” Yoo Hyeonsu couldn’t believe the current situation. He couldn’t believe he met Alley Leader.

“Be comfortable, comfortable. What is the use of honorifics between friends? It makes me want to puke.”

Hyeonu was really friendly. This was a slightly intentional behavior. Yoo Hyeonsu was a new recruit. No matter how well Yuri, Sunny, and Lee Hoon tried to act, it would be awkward. Hyeonu needed to reduce that distance between the players because he was the coach.

‘The captain needs to adapt well.’

No matter what anyone said, the center of the team was the captain. He knew this better than anyone since he used to be a player. In the actual competition, the performance varied depending on how well the captain controlled the players rather than the coaching staff’s capabilities.

Hyeonu said, “First of all, welcome to Crescent Moon. Training won’t start until six players are gathered together. Just hunt as you normally do.”

“I understand. Then what should I do about New Moon?” Yoo Hyeonsu asked.

“New Moon? What to do? Maybe even now, Nike is working on filtering the applicants,” Hyeonu answered casually. Nike Management was working hard on New Moon. They were eagerly selecting candidates according to the standards Hyeonu set.

‘People who won’t have any dust come out when they are shaken.’

Hyeonu only wanted them to meet this one condition. Nothing else mattered much.

‘Most of them will be around level 300 anyway.’

It was clear that their level and skills would be similar. The applicants knew best whether they had the strength to be a professional gamer.

“There must be like our captain Yoo Hyeonsu. There must be no chance of controversy appearing in Crescent Moon.”

“I like that, but… it won’t be easy. It is hard to find someone who isn’t darkened.”

Yoo Hyeonsu wanted to be a professional player, so he knew the situation better than anyone else. He knew everything about his friends and competitors—who represented the arena, what their personality was like, and what their connections were.

“Therefore, I need your help. Please help Supervisor Gang and Coach Jeong. Our side doesn’t have enough information. Pick the roster that you want. The strength will be created by me. Focus on personality, even if they are a bit lacking.”

Hyeonu was also going to make Yoo Hyeonsu participate in the qualification screening of the New Moon participants. There was no one more knowledgeable in that field. No matter how many were moving in Nike Management, they were like fireflies in front of the sun in front of Yoo Hyeonsu, an insider.

“Have you eaten dinner?” Hyeonu asked.

Hyeonu talked to Yoo Hyeonsu for a long time before feeling the need to end the discussion. He was very hungry because he hadn’t had a proper meal all day. The answer that Hyeonu wanted to hear popped out of Yoo Hyeonsu’s mouth: “Not yet.” 

“Then get ready, and let’s go to dinner. I’ll introduce you to another friend today.”

Hyeonu had another friend of the same age. He was a very nice and good friend.

“That friend will buy the meal. He is a friend who likes to meet people. He also has a habit of buying food when making new friends.”

***

Hyeonu and Reina’s method of hunting together had changed a lot. Hyeonu was the biggest part of the change. His direct involvement in combat was eliminated.

Hyeonu sat on the back of the rhinoceros demonic creature and didn’t let the soles of his feet touch the ground. However, the speed of the hunt didn’t decrease much. It was because there were two more people participating in the battle instead of Hyeonu—the magic spirit and Tang-E.

The two of them joined the battle on behalf of their master, Hyeonu. Hyeonu just used his mouth well.

“Tang-E, I told you not to fight like that. Delicately, eh? Use your magic power delicately. You already have enough power.”

The moment Hyeonu’s words ended, the magic power surrounding Tang-E’s hands subsided.

“Magic spirit, why can you only do that? Huh? Work hard, work hard. Tang-E and Reina are suffering because you can’t do it properly.”

After talking to Tang-E, Hyeonu continued to point things out to the magic spirit. Hyeonu learned that the magic spirit had developed a certain amount of ego and entrusted him with autonomous battles. It had a great effect. The proficiency of Magic Spirit Creation was rising insanely fast. It was much faster than when Hyeonu moved the magic spirit himself.

“Reina, you are doing well. Instead, I think it would be better if you moved your magic power a bit faster.” Hyeonu’s comments also turned toward Reina.

Yet contrary to his earlier criticism that was like a sharp dagger, his encouragement toward Reina was like a warm spring breeze. The three individuals fighting were gradually developing for different reasons.

One wanted to avoid being reprimanded.

One wanted to meet expectations.

One person didn’t want to look ugly.

‘Damn Master dude, he isn’t teaching me properly…’ Tang-E pouted with the appearance of a polite high school student. Tang-E didn’t like Hyeonu’s evaluation. Hyeonu said something from time to time, but he didn’t teach Tang-E in detail as he did when he taught others. Now he was even using his mouth to say such sharp words.

‘Aish!’ Tang-E controlled the powerful magic power flowing through his body toward his right hand. Black magic power sped through the world like a light. There was no end to its movement; nothing stopped the black light. The bodies of the demonic creatures burst like they had been bombed.

One, two, three…

In the end, all the demonic creatures except the one the magic spirit was dealing with were killed.

“Sigh… It’s annoying,” Tang-E muttered and changed his appearance again.

He returned to his original appearance of a cute little bear. Reina approached Tang-E with a faint smile. Tang-E naturally jumped into Reina’s arms.

“Tang-E, he is just saying this to make you better. Don’t take it to heart.” Reina knew why Tang-E was upset.

‘This is the time when he needs more praise,’ Reina thought.

Tang-E had been monopolizing a lot of Hyeonu’s affection all this time. So he became very dissatisfied when a lot of Hyeonu’s affection for him was shared with the magic spirit recently.

“Bah. No. Damn Master dude won’t do that.” Tang-E’s temper didn’t go away easily this time.

Just then, Hyeonu called out the magic spirit’s name loudly: “Ahh, the magic spirit!!”

Reina’s and Tang-E’s gazes turned toward the magic spirit. An intense light was being released from the magic spirit’s body.